PLANS to turn a town house into a community care home for people with mental health problems have been rejected by Bexley Council.

Funmi Oladimeji wanted to turn the three-storey house in Hartslock Drive, Thamesmead, into accommodation for up to five Bexley residents, employing six staff to provide 24-hour care.

Ms Oladimeji proposed to convert the two ground floor garages into an open-plan kitchen/dining room, convert the existing kitchen-diner on the first floor into a living room and the current living room into two bedrooms, and retain the four bedrooms on the fourth floor.

The council’s planning committee deferred a decision in June, asking for more information.

After hearing Bexley already has enough care accommodation to meet the needs of Bexley residents and concerns about bringing vulnerable people into an area with crime and disorder problems, councillors turned down the proposal.